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Oregon armed occupiers include prominent anti-Islam activist
Source: The Guardian
Oregon armed occupiers include prominent anti-Islam activist
Jon Ritzheimer, a prolific creator of online propaganda against Islam, has joined
crew of militiamen who claim to be guardians of US constitution
Jason Wilson at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
Monday 4 January 2016 23.17 GMT
The Bundy militia claim to be simple patriots guarding the US constitution. But 48 hours into their occupation of a wildlife refuge in rural Oregon, it has emerged that the band of armed protesters includes at least one prominent anti-Islam activist.
Jon Ritzheimer, a former US marine, was one of the guards posted at the gate of the Malheur wildlife reserve on Monday, and he was happy to espouse his virulent opposition to the Islamic faith.
“I am very outspoken against it because I see the threat that it poses,” he said of his opposition to Islam. “There’s a lot of people out there [who say] ‘Hey you’re an infidel whether you like it or not’ if you don’t believe in Islam.”
He added: “Islam is a tyrannical ideology. It cannot coexist with the constitution here in America.”
A prolific creator of online propaganda against Islam, Ritzheimer came to the attention of the FBI in December after he reportedly posted a video of himself holding a gun and threatening to drive to Hancock, New York, to confront journalists at a Muslim publication that had criticised him. The FBI, after initially dissuading him from the confrontation, notified state police of his potential arrival, according to reports.
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Jon Ritzheimer, a prolific creator of online propaganda against Islam, has joined
crew of militiamen who claim to be guardians of US constitution
Jason Wilson at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
Monday 4 January 2016 23.17 GMT
The Bundy militia claim to be simple patriots guarding the US constitution. But 48 hours into their occupation of a wildlife refuge in rural Oregon, it has emerged that the band of armed protesters includes at least one prominent anti-Islam activist.
Jon Ritzheimer, a former US marine, was one of the guards posted at the gate of the Malheur wildlife reserve on Monday, and he was happy to espouse his virulent opposition to the Islamic faith.
“I am very outspoken against it because I see the threat that it poses,” he said of his opposition to Islam. “There’s a lot of people out there [who say] ‘Hey you’re an infidel whether you like it or not’ if you don’t believe in Islam.”
He added: “Islam is a tyrannical ideology. It cannot coexist with the constitution here in America.”
A prolific creator of online propaganda against Islam, Ritzheimer came to the attention of the FBI in December after he reportedly posted a video of himself holding a gun and threatening to drive to Hancock, New York, to confront journalists at a Muslim publication that had criticised him. The FBI, after initially dissuading him from the confrontation, notified state police of his potential arrival, according to reports.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/04/oregon-malheur-wildlife-reserve-militia-occupation-anti-islam-activist-john-ritzheimer
